Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry (9701) Syllabus, Content , Assessment and Routes
Parents
Ruzbeh
Shafa
9
2025-05-19
Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry (9701) Syllabus Overview
Content Overview
AS Level Topics
- Physical Chemistry: Atomic Structure, Atoms & Stoichiometry, Chemical Bonding, States of Matter, Chemical Energetics, Electrochemistry, Equilibria, Reaction Kinetics
- Inorganic Chemistry: The Periodic Table, Group 2, Group 17, Nitrogen & Sulfur
- Organic Chemistry: Intro to Organic Chem, Hydrocarbons, Halogen Compounds, Hydroxy Compounds, Carbonyl Compounds, Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives, Nitrogen Compounds, Polymerisation, Organic Synthesis
- Analysis: Analytical Techniques
- Practical Skills
A Level Topics (includes all AS topics plus the following)
- Physical Chemistry: Advanced Chemical Energetics, Electrochemistry, Equilibria, Reaction Kinetics
- Inorganic Chemistry: Group 2, Transition Elements
- Organic Chemistry: Advanced Organic Chemistry, Hydrocarbons, Halogen Compounds, Hydroxy Compounds, Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives, Nitrogen Compounds, Polymerisation, Organic Synthesis
- Analysis: Analytical Techniques
- Practical Skills
"Cambridge International AS & A Levels prepare students well for university because they’ve learnt to go into a subject in considerable depth. There’s that ability to really understand the depth and richness and the detail of a subject. It’s a wonderful preparation for what they are going to face at university."
Feedback from: US Higher Education Advisory Council
Assessment Overview
Paper 1
- Type: Multiple Choice
- Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Marks: 40
- Questions: 40 multiple-choice questions
- Content: Based on AS Level syllabus content.
- Assessment: Externally assessed
- Weighting: 31% of the AS Level / 15.5% of the A Level
Paper 2
- Type: AS Level Structured Questions
- Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Marks: 60
- Content: Based on AS Level syllabus content.
- Assessment: Externally assessed
- Weighting: 46% of the AS Level / 23% of the A Level
Paper 3
- Type: Advanced Practical Skills
- Duration: 2 hours
- Marks: 40
- Content: Practical work and structured questions based on experimental skills.
- Assessment: Externally assessed
- Weighting: 23% of the AS Level / 11.5% of the A Level
Paper 4
- Type: A Level Structured Questions
- Duration: 2 hours
- Marks: 100
- Content: Based on A Level syllabus content; knowledge from AS Level required.
- Assessment: Externally assessed
- Weighting: 38.5% of the A Level
Paper 5
- Type: Planning, Analysis and Evaluation
- Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Marks: 30
- Content: Experimental planning, analysis and evaluation (may be outside syllabus).
- Assessment: Externally assessed
- Weighting: 11.5% of the A Level
Information on availability is in the Before you start section.
Three Available Routes
| # | Route | Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Paper 3 | Paper 4 | Paper 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AS Level only (Candidates take all AS components in the same exam series) |
yes | yes | yes | ||
| 2 | A Level (staged over two years) Year 1: AS Level* |
yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| 3 | A Level (Candidates take all components in the same exam series) |
yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
* Note: Candidates carry forward their AS Level result subject to the rules and time limits described in the Cambridge Handbook. See Making entries for more information on carry forward of results.
Grading:
- Candidates following an AS Level route are eligible for grades a–e.
- Candidates following an A Level route are eligible for grades A*–E.
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